Govt keen on solar park in Marathwada: Goyal

The Centre is keen to set up a solar power park in Marathwada if the state government provides land for it, Union minister of state for power Piyush Goyal said on Sunday.TNN | Updated: October 17, 2016, 09:15 IST

Aurangabad: The Centre is keen to set up a solarpower park in Marathwada if the state government provides land for it, Union minister of state for power Piyush Goyal said on Sunday.

Stating that the region could be ideal for generating good amount of solar energy, he said the government firms will be asked to further explore the available possibilities.

Goyal, who commissioned the 47.6 MW wind power project installed by public sector undertaking Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) at Khirvire in Akole taluka, appealed to SJVN authorities to take the lead in setting up a solar power park in Marathwada.

Emphasising on the use of renewable energy, the minister said the government has plans to carry out competitive bidding of wind power on the lines of solar power.

"The bidding process introduced in the solar power sector has resulted into reduction in the prices by 40-45%. We have plans to introduce a similar bidding process for wind power as well. These measures will eventually benefit power distribution companies," Goyal said.

Reacting to allegations levelled by a section of residents about the release of fly ash from Parli thermal power station in Beed district, the minister said such a harmful process was not allowed in any circumstances and necessary action will be taken. "The government has been promoting the use of fly-ash released from power plants for constructing roads, preparing bricks and manufacturing cement," he said.

Fly ash, which is a byproduct of power generation with coal, has been aptly used by NTPC at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh for afforestation, the minister said.

"The Khirvire project has 15 wind power turbines, each having 850 kv energy capacity. The project will have 56 turbine units and annual energy generation of 85.65 million units of electricity. It has been linked to a 132 kv transmission line from Akole. As per the execution schedule, the project will be fully commissioned during the current financial year," stated an official release.

Local BJP MLA Atul Save, Aurangabad district collector Nidhi Pandey and SJVN chairman & managing director Ramesh Misra among others were also present on the occasion.

“To save the environment and to fight climate change, my government has planned a major campaign. By 2022, we want to generate 175 GW of renewable energy. In the last three years, we have already achieved 60 GW or around one-third of this target,” he said.